Loropetalum plant named &#39;Gekkou&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Loropetalum  cultivar named ‘Gekkou’ is disclosed, characterized by bright magenta-pink flowers and strong heat tolerance and resistance to color change in extreme temperatures. Plant habit is very dense and full growing with very vibrant burgundy foliage. The new variety is a  Loropetalum , normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Loropetalum chinense.

Variety denomination: ‘Gekkou’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Loropetalum cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor in Kawaguchi City, Saitama, Japan. The objective of the breeding program was to produce new Loropetalum varieties with better foliage color and improved flowering for ornamental commercial applications. The cross resulting in this new variety was made during Jun. 30, 2013.

The seed parent is the commercial variety referred to as Loropetalum ‘Beniotome’, unpatented. The pollen parent is the unpatented, propriety variety referred to as Loropetalum ‘5-47’. The new variety was selected by the inventor in a group of seedlings resulting from the 2005 crossing, in a nursery in Kawaguchi City, Saitama, Japan.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was performed by softwood terminal cuttings. This was first performed at a nursery in Kawaguchi City, Saitama, Japan, in June 2013 and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in 5 successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘Gekkou’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Gekkou’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Gekkou’ as a new and distinct Loropetalum cultivar:

1. Bright deep pink flowers. 2. Strong heat tolerance and resistant to color change in extreme temperatures. 3. Very dense and full growing plant. 4. Vibrant burgundy foliage.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Gekkou’ are similar to plants of the seed parent, Loropetalum ‘Beniotome’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘Gekkou’ differ in the following;

1. The new variety has dark pink flowers, parent variety has red to magenta colored flowers. 2. The new variety has significantly more flowers than the parent variety.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Gekkou’ are similar to plants of the pollen parent, Loropetalum 5-47′ in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘Gekkou’ differ in the following;

1. The new variety has large flowers, whereas the parent has medium sized flowers. 2. Bright magenta flowers, the parent has pink flowers.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Gekkou’ are comparable to the patented, commercial variety Loropetalum ‘Kurenai Daiou’. The two Loropetalum varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however, the new variety ‘Gekkou’ differs in the following:

1. The new variety has smaller foliage. 2. The new variety has smaller flowers than this comparator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color an overhead view of a typical plant of ‘Gekkou’ grown in a 1 gallon pot.

FIG. 2 illustrates a side of of the same plant.

FIG. 3 illustrates a close up view of the flowers and foliage. Age of the plant photographed is approximately 1 to 2 years old from a rooted cutting. The photograph was taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2007 except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘Gekkou’ plants grown in a double poly greenhouse, in Grand Haven, Michigan. The growing temperature averaged from 60-65° F. during the day and from 40-50° F. during the night. The double poly was present from Fall through Winter, then removed in the Spring. Shade cloth was used through the Summer. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Loropetalum chinense ‘Gekkou’. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type of propagation typically used.—Cutting.         -   Time to initiate roots.—18 days at 27° C.         -   Number of days to produce a rooted liner in summer.—110 days             at 27° C.         -   Root description.—Thin to thick, fibrous, free branching and             fleshy. New roots are purple in color, aging to brown. -   Plant:     -   -   Type of plant.—Perennial shrub.         -   Age of plant described.—1 to 2 years old.         -   Container size of the plant described.—1 gallon pot.         -   Growth habit.—Spreading to upright.         -   Height.—17 cm.         -   Plant spread.—29 cm.         -   Growth rate.—Moderate.         -   Plant vigor.—Good.         -   Branching characteristics.—Lateral branching.         -   Characteristics of primary lateral branches.—Length: 38 cm.             Quantity: 11. Diameter: 3.0 mm. Color: Young stems: Near RHS             Brown 200B. Older stems: Near RHS Greyed-Orange 165A.             Aspect: Straight, occurring at various angles from acute to             obtuse. Strength: Good.         -   Internode length.—2.1 cm.         -   Stem pubescence.—Yes. -   Foliage:     -   -   Leaf.—Arrangement: Alternate, single. Quantity:             Approximately 43 per branch. Average Length: 2.2-5.8 cm.             Average Width: 1.6-3.4 cm. Shape of blade: Ovate rounded.             Apex: Acute Base: Oblique Margin: Entire Texture of top             surface: Rough due to presence of pubescence. Texture of             bottom surface: Ribbed due to protruding veins. Moderate             pubescence. Appearance: Upper surface: heavy pubescence on             young leaves, moderate to slight on older leaves Lower             surface: moderate to strong pubescence at all ages. Color:             Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Greyed-purple 187A Young             foliage under side: Glaucous. Near RHS Red-purple 59A Mature             foliage upper side: Near RHS Greyed-Purple 187A with             undertones of RHS Black 200A. Mature foliage under side:             Glaucous. Near RHS Red-Purple 59B with undertones of RHS             Greyed-Green 191D. Venation: Type: Pinnate Venation color             upper side: Midribs and veins are depressed on the upper             side. Color does not differ from the leaf color. Venation             color under side: Midribs and veins are prominent on the             underside. Near RHS Greyed-Purple Group 186A. Petiole:             Length: 0.2 to 0.3 cm. Diameter: 1 mm. Color: Near RHS             Greyed-Orange 166A. -   Flower:     -   -   Inflorescence and flower type and habit.—Mainly terminal             with umbel inflorescence.         -   Quantity of flowers per inflorescence.—5 to 7.         -   Flower type.—Strap-shaped.         -   Flower aspect.—Upright.         -   Quantity of flowers per lateral stem.—15-30.         -   Quantity of flowers per plant.—50-200 on a plant of 1 to 2             years.         -   Natural flowering season.—Spring to Fall.         -   Fragrance.—None.         -   Bud.—Shape: Obovate. Length: 4 mm. Diameter: 2.5 mm Color:             Near RHS Red-Purple 59B.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: 4. Shape: Linear. Margin:             Entire. Texture: Smooth, silky. Appearance: Ribbon-like.             Length: 17 mm. Width: 1 mm. Tip: Truncate. Color: When             opening: Upper surface: Near RHS Red-Purple 60B. Lower             surface: Near RHS Red-Purple 60B. Fully opened: Upper             surface: Near RHS Red-Purple 60B. Lower surface: Near RHS             Red-Purple 60B. Fades to: Near RHS Red-Purple 60B.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 4-6. Appearance: Slightly             pubescent. Texture: Slightly pubescent. Arrangement: Whorl.             Shape: Ovate and fused, slightly curled outward. Length:             4 mm. Width: 2 mm Tip: Slightly reflexed. Base: Fused.             Margin: Entire, smooth. Color: Immature upper and lower             side: Near RHS Red-Purple 58A. Mature upper and lower side:             Near RHS Red-Purple 58A. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Number: 4. Filament length: Average 1 mm Filament             color: Near RHS White 155C Anthers: Shape: Linear Length:             Less than 1 mm Color: Near RHS White 155C Pollen: Amount:             Scant Color: Near RHS White 155B         -   Pistil.—Number: 2 Length: Approximately 1 mm Style: Length:             Less than 1 mm Color: Near RHS White 155C Stigma: Shape:             Linear Color: Near RHS White 155C Ovary: Less than 1 mm,             colored near Yellow-Green 150D -   Other characteristics:     -   -   Lowest temperature tolerance.—5 to 10° F.         -   Disease/pest resistance.—No unusual susceptibility to             diseases or pests noted to date. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Loropetalum plant named ‘Gekkou’ as herein illustrated and described. 